Lin Rui stood by the window, looking at the distant, verdant mountains through the delicate bamboo shadows. A cool breeze wafted in from outside, ruffling his slightly damp hair. At this moment, he felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. After all, his path of cultivation was about to begin today.
Lin Rui took a deep breath and temporarily suppressed the thoughts of family disputes. He knew very well that to gain a foothold in this cultivation world where strength reigned supreme; the priority was to pass the upcoming assessment, enter the Lin family's inner sanctum, and improve his strength.
He focused on the Primordial 《Lin Family Heart Mantra》 on the desk. The pages were yellowed and had a faint sandalwood scent, which was obviously quite old. It was essential for the introductory cultivation of the Lin family disciples. Recording the breathing methods formed by generations of Lin family predecessors aimed at guiding beginners to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and mobilize the hidden spiritual meridians in their bodies.
Lin Rui opened the book and studied it word by word, sentence by sentence. The text of the Primordial 《Lin Family Heart Mantra》 was not obscure or difficult to understand; on the contrary, it was pretty straightforward to grasp, meticulously describing the meridian paths through which spiritual energy circulated, as well as the breathing methods coordinated with the heart mantra. As described in the book, he adjusted his breathing, sensed the spiritual meridians inside his body, and tried to meditate to feel the "spiritual energy of heaven and earth" described in the book.
However, half an hour passed. Apart from feeling a slight fatigue, Lin Rui's body showed no reaction, let alone sense the so-called "spiritual energy." Unwilling to give up, he tried several more times, but the result was still the same.
"It seems that this 《Lin Family Heart Mantra》 is still useless to my body. No wonder the original owner practiced this technique for so long without effect." Lin Rui slowly opened his eyes, frowned slightly, and pondered. He sensed no problem with the heart mantra itself, and the breathing method was also quite sophisticated. Still, for some reason, his body seemed inherently incompatible with this set of heart mantras, like gears and bearings with subtle but fatal deviations, unable to fit perfectly and naturally unable to exert its due effect.
He was not impatient. As a private detective in his previous life, he had spent weeks or even months studying boring clues to solve complex mysteries. He was already accustomed to repeated attempts and patient waiting.
So, Lin Rui was not discouraged; instead, he felt a faint excitement rising in his heart. For him, obstacles ahead, a natural "puzzle solver," were another kind of "challenge."
Since the 《Lin Family Heart Mantra》 won't work, then let's change tack. Understanding this world's cultivation system from the source might reveal a method more suitable for me." Lin Rui made a quick decision. He placed the 《Lin Family Heart Mantra》 back on the desk, stood up, and headed out of the room.
The Lin Family Archive Pavilion, located in a tranquil area at the core of the family grounds, was an ancient, rustic wooden building nestled amidst lush bamboo groves, exuding an air of serene antiquity. It housed countless volumes accumulated by generations of Lin Family predecessors, encompassing the myriad arts of cultivation, secret techniques, and all manner of strange tales and anecdotes – the Lin Family's most important repository of knowledge.
With his status as a "quasi-inner sect disciple," Lin Rui gained entry to the Archive Pavilion without a hitch. Inside, bookshelves stood in rows, ancient books stretching as far as the eye could see. The air was permeated with a faint scent of ink and the musty odor of aged paper, instantly bringing peace to one's mind.
Lin Rui's goal was clear. He headed straight for the bookshelves where "Basic Cultivation" books were placed and began to browse carefully. Soon, a weighty tome titled 《An Overview of Cultivation in Azure Mist Province》 caught his attention. The pages were already yellowed, obviously having been read countless times. The corners were worn, but it was otherwise well-preserved.
Lin Rui pulled out the book, found a quiet corner in the pavilion to sit down, and began to study it earnestly.
The book's opening chapter detailed the division of cultivation levels in Azure Mist Province and even the entire cultivation world. The book didn't simply describe the growth of cultivators' power. Instead, it explained the layered leaps in the essence of a cultivator's life, like a cultivator gradually merging with the "spirit network" between heaven and earth, progressively mastering the laws of heaven and earth. These levels included:
Level 1: Secret Art Enlightenment (Initial)
Level 2: Heart Mantra Initial Cultivation
Level 3: Meridian Awakening
Level 4: Law Technique Initial Glimpse
Level 5: Family Heritage Foundation Establishment
Level 6: Secret Art Internal Refinement
Level 7: Pill Technique Initial Refinement
Level 8: Law Meridian Gradual Opening
Level 9: Heart Method Condensation
Level 10: Secret Art Immersion
Level 11: Law Technique Deep Cultivation
Level 12: Family Heritage Pill Completion
Level 13: Meridian Thorough Understanding
Level 14: Secret Art Comprehensive Penetration
Level 15: Heart Method Great Accomplishment
Level 16: Secret Art Integrated Mastery
Level 17: Inheritance Sublimation
Level 19: Peerless Skill Initial Success
Level 20: Inheritance Pinnacle
The book explained that these twenty levels were not like the simple accumulation of power of secular martial artists but rather the depth of a cultivator's understanding of "secret arts" and the degree of their integration with the "Heavenly Dao."
Breakthroughs at each level meant a qualitative leap in the cultivator's control over spiritual energy, extension of lifespan, and application of laws. In other words, each breakthrough of a cultivator elevated the essence of life.
The book emphasized the twelfth level as the "watershed" between mortal and immortal cultivation.
Before the twelfth level, cultivators were still in a "mortal body," and their physical bodies limited their strength and lifespan.
Once they broke through the twelfth level, they could "transcend mortality," and their vitality and cultivation would significantly improve, entering a higher realm of cultivation and powers.
"Twelfth level, the 'watershed' of mortal and immortal cultivation..." Lin Rui frowned slightly, silently noting this key piece of information.
Combining what Granny Su had said before and the Lin family's emphasis on "inner sect disciples," he vaguely felt that this twelfth level might be an essential benchmark for measuring the "foundation" and "strength" of a cultivation family.
However, Lin Rui also noticed a description in the book stating that no cultivator above the twelfth level had appeared for thousands of years.
Lin Rui didn't dwell on this, though. He continued reading.
The book describes in detail the key points and characteristics of each stage of cultivation. For example, in the "Secret Art Enlightenment" stage, cultivators needed to initially contact with secret arts by "sensing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth" and establishing a cognitive understanding and aspiration for the path of cultivation.
In the "Heart Mantra Initial Cultivation" stage, they would begin to learn basic heart mantras, experience the operational patterns of Qi energy, and lay a foundation for subsequent cultivation. By the "Meridian Awakening" stage, a cultivator's meridians would gradually become unobstructed, and they would begin to perceive the flow of Qi energy and mobilize faint spiritual power.
Lin Rui carefully compared the descriptions in the book and found that the 《Lin Family Heart Mantra》 he was learning was not wholly consistent with the requirements of these cultivation stages. The book pointed out that the core of the "Secret Art Enlightenment" stage lay in "sensing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth." Still, he had not even completed this first step of sensing, so truly "entering the door" was obviously out of reach.
"It seems that relying solely on the 《Lin Family Heart Mantra》 is not feasible. I have to find another way, to find a more suitable method of enlightenment for me..." Lin Rui secretly made up his mind. He closed 《An Overview of Cultivation in Azure Mist Province》 and took another book from the bookshelf, titled 《A First Exploration of the Spirit Network》.
The cover of this book depicted a complex and profound rune network, emitting a faint glow, giving people a mysterious and unpredictable feeling. Lin Rui opened the book and was instantly drawn to the world of the "spirit network" described within.
《A First Exploration of the Spirit Network》 detailed the unique "spirit network" system of the cultivation world and the key role of the "spirit network" in various aspects of the cultivator's cultivation, life, and combat. The book compared the "spirit network" to an "invisible net" covering the entire cultivation world, interwoven with countless tiny "spirit threads," connecting everything in heaven and earth, from mountains and rivers to vegetation and creatures, and even every cultivator's "consciousness" and "soul." Through unique secret arts, cultivators connected their own "consciousness" with the "spirit network," thereby "sensing," absorbing, and even manipulating the "spiritual energy" between heaven and earth.
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As cultivation levels increased, the connection between cultivators and the spirit network deepened, and the spiritual power they could mobilize became stronger, enabling them to unleash increasingly powerful Shentong. The core task for cultivators in the "Secret Art Enlightenment" stage was to establish an initial connection with the "spirit network." After successfully connecting to the spirit network, cultivators could absorb spiritual energy easily and freely, like fish in water, truly stepping into the door of cultivation.
"Spirit Network..." Lin Rui murmured to himself, the concept of the "Internet" from his previous life involuntarily surfacing in his mind. Although the "Spirit Network" and the "Internet" were not entirely the same, they shared a similarity: both were systems for exchanging and transmitting information and energy; only one connected spiritual energy and consciousness, while the other connected digits and information.
"Perhaps I can try to start from the perspective of the 'Spirit Network' to find a method of enlightenment that suits me better... Let me jot this down first and then look at other books." A thought flickered in Lin Rui's mind. He closed 《A First Exploration of the Spirit Network》, stood up, and placed the book back on the bookshelf.
He continued browsing the books in the Archive Pavilion, his fingertips tracing the cover of a worn tome titled 《Miscellaneous Talks on Hundreds of Industries in Cultivation》. The pages were yellowed, the corners slightly curled, exuding an air of antiquity. This book was not the rigorous career guide he had initially imagined but more like a cultivator's "survival manual," revealing, in an almost common street vernacular, the more realistic and harsh picture of survival beneath the glamorous surface of the cultivation world.
When he opened the pages, what greeted his eyes were not profound professional classifications but rather segments of "daily life of cultivators" thick with the smells of the marketplace.
"...At mao hour in the morning, the alchemy furnace of Blacksmith Li's family in the east of Emerald Micro City exploded again, the shock audible throughout the neighborhood. It's said that the newly arrived alchemy apprentice was dozing off out of laziness and didn't control the heat properly. Several hundred Qi Nourishing Pills were all ruined. Blacksmith Li was so enraged on the spot that he spat out three liters of blood, while the apprentice had his legs broken and was thrown directly out the door. Tsk, tsk, the alchemy profession is indeed high-risk, high-reward. One step to heaven, one step to hell..."
"...Butcher Zhang from the west of the city, yesterday again spent a fortune at Drunken Immortal Tavern, booking the entire third floor just to fete a few demon beast hunters. They just hunted down a Rank 3 Blood Wolf deep within the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains. Just that demon core alone is worth a fortune. Tsk, tsk, and combat cultivators are the professions that can accumulate wealth fastest. A blade in hand, ten thousand taels of gold. But their heads hang on their belts; who knows which day they'll be gone..."
"...Recently, Old Wang's Talisman Shop in the north of the city has been booming. Rumor has it they've newly hired a talisman master. The talismans he crafts are much more powerful and reasonably priced, attracting countless cultivators to come and purchase them. Tsk, tsk, the talisman crafting profession is indeed one that can make a fortune in silence. A small talisman can sell for a sky-high price. But you can't master this skill in ten or eight years..."
Between the lines were not "noble sentiments" or "lofty ideals" but naked survival and profit, as well as the ordinary, everyday life of the city with a touch of black humor. 《Miscellaneous Talks on Hundreds of Industries in Cultivation》 was like a slightly distorted mirror, reflecting the true face of the cultivation world: prosperity and desolation coexisting, glamour and darkness intertwined, with both the lure of "one step to heaven" and the risk of "falling into the abyss."
Lin Rui read with relish. Although these "miscellaneous talks" seemed trivial, they sketched out from the side the current survival status and "unwritten rules" of various "professions" in the cultivation world. He gradually realized that so-called "combat professions," seemingly infinitely glorious and living on the edge, once entered, were destined to be companions with life and death. One careless step, and one would lose their life. Moreover, "combat professions" in the cultivation world were opportunities for influential experts and required extraordinary strength, agile adaptability, and sufficient courage and luck. A slight misstep and death was a real possibility.
While seemingly stable on the surface, these "production professions" were full of competition. Especially in trades like alchemy, artifact crafting, and talisman making, superb skills, and keen minds were required, as well as years of accumulation and constant innovation. Those who could stand out were often cultivators with exceptional skills and the ability to follow trends.
As for "auxiliary professions," though seemingly straightforward, they were among the most demanding in the cultivation world, with extremely high thresholds. They required unique talents, a long-term accumulation of experience, and the ability to demonstrate exceptional wisdom and cooperation skills in handling complex interpersonal relationships and the demands of powerful cultivators. "Special professions," on the other hand, were even more elusive and rare. Almost all cultivators in such professions were accompanied by unpredictable opportunities and fated arrangements. These professions often required the right timing, geographical advantages, and harmonious relationships; they were tricky to replicate. Some of these professions even existed only in legends.
This was hardly the "immortal-like" cultivation world. It was a large-scale "survival arena" where everyone was doing their best to "live on," engaging in deceit and betrayal, the law of the jungle playing out to the fullest.
"Tsk, it is 'realistic' enough..." Lin Rui's lips curled into a slightly mocking arc. This "true" face of the "cultivation world" was vastly different from the "wonderland" he had initially imagined, yet it made him feel a strange sense of "familiarity" and "intimacy." After all, wasn't the "modern society" he lived in in his previous life just another "survival arena"? It was just draped in a layer of more exquisite and civilized "disguise," but in essence, it was still "the strong eat the weak," "survival of the fittest."
Continuing to read, Lin Rui discovered that some of the "miscellaneous talks" in the book described not only the current state of cultivation but also many ways for cultivators to gain experience and growth by undertaking tasks. Each task was not just a simple action but an opportunity to accumulate knowledge, improve abilities, and even breakthrough in cultivation.
"Escort missions" were mentioned multiple times. These types of missions were usually suitable for cultivators who were new to the cultivation world. Although they seemed ordinary, they were full of potential. Although Lin Rui cannot directly manipulate spiritual energy at present, after completing missions, cultivators can accumulate "basic cultivation experience" through practical tasks. This experience did not directly improve cultivation levels but helped cultivators adjust their bodies and minds, cultivate keen perception, and gradually understand the flow of spiritual energy and cultivation techniques. For Lin Rui, these missions did not directly bring about an increase in spiritual energy. Still, they trained his "reaction ability," "observation skills," and "survival ability," allowing him to gradually become aware of the existence of spiritual energy and stimulate his potential.
"'Escort missions'... 'spirit rice'... 'newbie cultivators'..." A thoughtful glimmer flickered in Lin Rui's eyes. In his current state, although he was still in the early stages of cultivation and hadn't even reached the first level of cultivation, these types of missions seemed to fit his needs perfectly. Not only were the risks moderate and the rewards acceptable, but most importantly, they could provide him with an opportunity for "field research." He could accumulate experience through these missions, gradually cultivate his potential for spiritual energy perception, familiarize himself with the ecology of the cultivation world, and build his physical fitness and reaction capabilities, laying a solid foundation for his subsequent cultivation.
"It's like an entry trial for the cultivation world. After completing missions, my experience points should improve somewhat." Lin Rui pondered to himself. "By accumulating experience through missions, I can continuously advance in body conditioning and perception enhancement, preparing for the future when I can control spiritual energy."
Lin Rui suddenly recalled the original owner's cultivation process. The original owner had merely cultivated behind closed doors, relying on practicing some essential martial arts and physical skills, desperately build his physical body, but had never broken through to the spiritual energy level. At that time, he had never tried missions nor realized the true meaning of cultivation. He was alone, mistakenly believing that as long as he kept strengthening his physical body, he could break through in cultivation. As it turned out, this path was simply unworkable.
"Perhaps the original owner never came into contact with missions and missed the most important opportunity." Lin Rui felt a bit self-mocking in his heart, strengthening his resolve. "The mission approach might allow me to embark on a different path of cultivation and break through past bottlenecks."
Suddenly, his gaze fell on a book on the bookshelf titled 《The Way of Cultivation for Cultivators》. His heart stirred. He reached out, pulled out the book, and opened the first page. The book mentioned that in Azure Clouds World, cultivator cultivation was not simply a vague improvement based on personal perception, but rather, there was a complete "spiritual energy perception system." Whenever a cultivator's control over spiritual energy or body conditioning reached a certain level, the cultivator would feel a subtle change. This change was neither a surge of spiritual energy nor a sudden increase in strength, but rather the body's senses gradually becoming more delicate and precise.
The book also mentioned that Azure Clouds World had a unique detection device called a "Spiritual Sense Meter." This device could detect a cultivator's cultivation level, and when a cultivator performed spiritual energy circulation or body conditioning, it could accurately react their current cultivation state. The "Spiritual Sense Meter" could accurately detect a cultivator's level and analyze the details of a cultivator's spiritual energy control and body conditioning, helping cultivators understand their progress.
"Each time there's an improvement, there will be some slight sensation, perhaps sensing that the flow of spiritual energy in the spirit network is more delicate or that the meridians in the body have become more unobstructed. And the 'Spiritual Sense Meter' will convert these changes into concrete data, allowing cultivators to know whether they have reached a new level." Lin Rui's heart stirred. It seemed that they would also use the "Spiritual Sense Meter" for the upcoming assessment to confirm whether he had made a breakthrough.
He continued reading, learning in detail how to use the "Spiritual Sense Meter. " He discovered that if cultivators gradually improved their abilities during missions, they could use the "Spiritual Sense Meter" to confirm their progress after completing the missions. This process not only allowed cultivators to confirm their cultivation level but also helped them clarify their cultivation direction and avoid detours.
Lin Rui closed the book, his mind filled with clarity. Although the path of cultivation was still full of unknowns, he could already feel a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough. Through the information in 《Miscellaneous Talks on Hundreds of Industries in Cultivation》 and the "Spiritual Sense Meter" for testing cultivation, he was no longer cultivating unquestioningly. He had a more precise direction in his mind.
"It seems that doing more basic tasks first may be the key to my breakthrough in the current situation." Lin Rui pondered silently, a glimmer of light flickering in his eyes. By accumulating experience through tasks, he could enhance his perception of spiritual energy and body conditioning and use the observations from the functions to help him better understand the essence of cultivation. He realized that tasks were not just about simple "completion"—they were a cultivation path tailored for cultivators—each completion of a task meant growth and progress.
The existence of the Spiritual Sense Meter made Lin Rui even more excited. According to the book's description, each mission completion would bring subtle spiritual energy fluctuations or changes in body conditioning, and these changes could be reflected with the help of the Spiritual Sense Meter. Through the Spiritual Sense Meter, Lin Rui could intuitively see his progress and determine whether he had entered a new realm or was one step closer to a breakthrough. He no longer needed to rely on vague impressions of feeling but could confirm through scientific detection whether he had made substantial improvements.
"If I can use these tools, I can not only improve my cultivation level but also lay a solid foundation for the future." Lin Rui gradually clarified his goals. "For the upcoming tasks, I must do them more meticulously, not just for the sake of completing them, but to accumulate experience through each practice, gradually improve my cultivation methods, and advance towards the goal of 'Secret Art Enlightenment.'"
He stood up and left the Archive Pavilion, his mind already possessing a clear plan. Next, he planned to register his cultivator identity and choose a low-level mission suitable for him. As he completed missions, he gradually accumulated experience, improved his cultivation progress, and used the "Spiritual Sense Meter" to confirm his breakthrough status. With that, he would have more confidence for the subsequent assessment.
